The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Panama
Panama: The share and number of people living in extreme poverty was 3.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Panama, 1979–2024
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, the share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Panama stood at 3.1%.
The figure is down 16.3% on the previous year and down 51.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, the share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Panama peaked at 29.8% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2019.
Panama ranks 46th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 15.6% | — |
| 1989 | 29.8% | +90.3% |
| 1991 | 27.1% | -8.9% |
| 1995 | 21.1% | -22.1% |
| 1997 | 19.9% | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 19.8% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 17.7% | -10.4% |
| 2000 | 16.3% | -7.7% |
| 2001 | 20.8% | +27.2% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | -17.2% |
| 2003 | 16.8% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 14.5% | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 15.7% | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 13.0% | -17.5% |
| 2008 | 9.0% | -30.6% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | -26.2% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | +15.2% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | -20.6% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | +22.3% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | -20.4% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -25.0% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -10.9% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | -12.4% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | -22.2% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | +13.2% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | +13.1% |
| 2024 | 3.1% | -16.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.6% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 29.8% | 29.8% | 29.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 21.1% | 17.7% | 27.1% | 5 |
| 2000s | 14.6% | 6.6% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 2.9% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More poverty & inequality data for Panama
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 7 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 2.12 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 4,226 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -5.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 12.5 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 12.5% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Panama?
- The share and number of people living in extreme poverty in Panama was 3.1% in 2024, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest the share and number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 1989.
- What is the lowest the share and number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2019.
- How does Panama rank for the share and number of people living in extreme poverty?
- Panama ranks 46th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is the share and number of people living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of The share and number of people living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.